Page 137 of Finding Storm

Jesus. Christ.

I pull out of Jake’s hold and turn away, walking over to the window, giving myself a moment to sort my shit out and stop acting like a pussy.

When I hear the strumming of strings, I turn to see Tom standing in front of Jonny’s guitar, his fingers running over the strings.

“Why is this still in here?” Tom turns to Jake and Den. “Actually, why the fuck is any of this stuff still in here? I thought we had it cleaned out years ago?”

“We did,” Jake answers him. “I just left a few things in here. I guess I didn’t want it gone of Jon completely. But you’re right; we should get rid of the rest of it. Donate it to charity or something.” Jake glances at me. “Unless you want anything out of here?”

In the past, I always refused anything of Jonny’s that Jake offered to me. I didn’t want anything of Jonny’s back then. I guess I was an angry kid, who turned into an angry adult.

I don’t feel so angry anymore.

And that’s because of Stevie.

She made everything so much simpler.

She made me happy.

And I walked away from that happiness.

I walk over to the guitar and pick it up. “I’ll take this, if that’s okay,” I say to Jake.

“It’s more than okay,” he says, smiling.

“So, are we getting the fuck out of here and going for a drink?” Tom slings his arm around my shoulders, leading me toward the door.

“Can’t. I’ve gotta be in the studio in ten minutes, or Zane will kick my ass from here to kingdom come.”

“Jake, call Zane and tell him that Storm won’t be going in the studio today.”

“I’m not fucking ringing him.” Jake laughs from behind us.

“Come on!” Tom turns to face Jake, taking me with him. “It’s your fucking label. Call him, say, Storm’s not coming to make music today because there’s drinking and strip bars to go to.”

Laughter bursts from Jake and Denny.

“Oh, yeah, sure, you’re going to a strip bar.” Jake nods, smirking. “Let me just call Lyla and check on that with her.”

“Fuck off!” Tom flips him off.

“Strip bars?” Den chuckles. “Really, Tom? Christ. It’s like I’ve flashed back twenty-five years.”

I don’t bristle when Den says that. I don’t feel like he’s comparing me being here to Jonny being with them all those years ago.

And even if he were, maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing, being compared to Jonny.

God, I never thought I’d think that.

I guess things have changed.

And two weeks was all it took.

Two weeks with Stevie.

And now, I’ve left her behind, and I’ll never again get to feel the way I did when I was with her.

I just … I wish I knew a way where I could have Stevie … and have my music.